A good percentage of my loyal readers have found me through comments I left on other blogs. It only makes sense. I comment on blogs I like that have something in common with me. Other readers are there for the same reason. We connect and become friends. I’ve found great new blogs through comments also.
Keep this in the back of your mind when you are commenting. You are marketing yourself and your writing in a comment. How and what can you write to make your comment stand out?
I don’t know of a set page with a list of comment etiquette. Here are some things I practice when leaving comments:
- If you have a lot to say send an email or write your own post and just leave link. Comments don’t have to be 140 characters or less, but they don’t need to be 1000 words either.
- Make sure you leave your url in each comment. If the form prevents you from leaving it as a link through your name type it in the bottom of the comment box. This is a good habit to get in to if you like to enter giveaways.
- Don’t leave a lot of links in a comment. One is okay. Using a lot of links will send your comment to the spam folder.
- Humor is good!
- Don’t be mean.
- Be interesting. ”I agree,” may be true, but can you word it better?
- Contribute to the conversation if possible.
- Use common sense. Write a wonderful comment that you would enjoy receiving.
How about you? What do you hate to see in comments? What makes you want to meet the person who wrote a comment?
About Jendi
Great tips for comments! I’ve found some of my favorite blogs while reading comments. What a terrific way to network and get to know other bloggers!
I love comments and want to find ways to encourage more comments on my blog (and not just views). It does seem to help to have a conversational tone in the comment section, so I will respond to comments left on my own blog, and email new commenters with a quick “Thanks for visiting my blog” email.
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Comments can add so much to a blog when you have great readers. I love going to blogs where an actual conversation occurs in the comment section, and I owe a huge thanks to the commenters on The Anonymati. Not only did the blogger help with my novel’s first page, but the comments left added a ton of insight regarding the editing process for fiction as well.
Although the, “great post,” and, “I agree,” comments are nice for the ego, they don’t add anything to the blog, and I never bother reading them when perusing other blogs let alone click on the links.
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I never considered comments being a part of marketing! I really don’t like useless comments. Such as the “Great post”. I just feel like if you are going to say something have more substance. I will look as someone’s blog if they say something that adds to the post, if they are really sincere or if they are funny.
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oh I suck at comments! I never have anything of value to say!
Absolutely! Commenting definitely follows Rule #1 of networking – you have to give in order to receive.
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Oh I totally agree. That’s why I’ve spend 3 days trying to respond to the 400+ comments I got as a featured blogger on SITS!
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I would add to start commenting on company blogs as well if you want to review a product; they might notice you!
Jendi: I agree…
KIDDING! I like to hear the experiences of the commenters that relate to the post. So, if I’m sharing my favorite Disney vaction memory, I’d love for commenters to share theirs. That’s how I feel connected to the readers.
CanCan: Great idea on commenting on company blogs. I never thougth about that.
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